HC Deb 10 February 1983 vol 36 c439W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the information provided to parents on pertussis vaccination is balanced fairly between the effect of the illness and the possible risk of iatrogenic injury.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Basic advice on whooping cough immunisation and the effects of the disease is given in the Health Education Council's leaflet "Immunisation: just a few moments' discomfort for years of protection", and I am satisfied that the facts in that publication are presented fairly. It is the professional responsibility of doctors and nurses to advise parents as to the benefits and possible risks of immunisation against whooping cough for individual children. In order to inform and assist the health professions, the chief medical officer and chief nursing officer in the Department conveyed to all general practitioners and health authorities in May 1981 comments by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation on studies commissioned to investigate the safety of whooping cough vaccine.